Haematological values in a healthy adult population in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Background: Haematological values derived from local populations are useful in laboratories to improve diagnoses for local patients. In Cameroon, these data are not yet available. Moreover, there is great variation in baseline parameters pertaining to full blood cell count among medical laboratories.Objectives: This study aimed to determine values for the complete blood cell count of a healthy adult Cameroonian population for use in locally derived ranges in our medical laboratories.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among blood donors attending three blood banks in Yaoundé from November 2015 to September 2016. We expected to obtain at least 120 venous blood samples from both men and women. Tests were performed for (1) HIV, (2) complete blood cell count, (3) hepatitis B virus, (4) malaria, (5) syphilis, (6) C-reactive protein and (7) hepatitis C virus.Results: We enrolled 294 healthy participants (161 men, 133 women) aged 18 to 55 years. The median haemoglobin concentration was 135 g/L in men and 114 g/L in women (p < 0.001). The median reticulocyte count was 60 × 109/L in men and 40 × 109/L in women (p < 0.001).Significant variation by sex was observed for the platelet count. The median white blood cell count was 4.1 × 109/L in men and 4.6 × 109/L in women (p = 0.008). Conclusion: This study provides locally derived ranges for complete blood cell and reticulocyte counts for a healthy adult population in Yaoundé, Cameroon. These results can be used pending larger studies

White blood cell count and C-reactive protein together remain useful for diagnosis and staging of acute appendicitis in children

Background. Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common acute surgical condition of the abdomen, and the most commonly misdiagnosed.Objective. To analyse the white blood cell count (WBCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) contribution to the diagnosis of AA in children.Methods. This was a retrospective study of 943 consecutive patients operated on with the preoperative diagnosis of AA, in whom preoperative WBCC and CRP had both been measured. Postoperatively, the patients were divided into three groups: normal appendix (no AA), simple AA and complicated AA.Results. Of the 943 patients, 616 (65.3%) had simple AA. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age for this group was 9.8 (3.2) years (p<0.01 v. complicated AA), the mean WBCC was 16.5 (5.0) × 109/L (p<0.01 v. complicated AA and no AA), and the mean CRP level was 304.8 (409.5) nmol/L (p<0.01 v. complicated AA). The mean age of the patients with complicated AA (283/943, 30.0%) was 7.9 (3.7) years, the mean WBCC was 17.7 (6.2) × 109/L (p<0.01 v. no AA) and the mean CRP level was 1 076.2 (923.8) nmol/L (p<0.01 v. no AA). The mean age of the patients with no AA (44/943, 4.7%) was 8.8 (3.2) years, the mean WBCC was 13.1 (5.3) × 109/L and the mean CRP was 361.9 (447.6) nmol/L. The WBCC was normal in 113/899 patients with appendicitis (12.6%) and CRP in 139 (15.5%). Both the WBCC and CRP were normal in 17 patients with appendicitis (1.9%). The best receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained for WBCC when comparing all AA with no AA: cut-off point 15.0 × 109/L, sensitivity 65%, specificity 68%, area under the curve 0.70. The best ROC curve for CRP was obtained when comparing simple AA with complicated AA: cut-off point 361.9 nmol/L, sensitivity 74%, specificity 74%, area under the curve 0.81.Conclusions. The WBCC is helpful in diagnosing simple AA and CRP in diagnosing complicated AA. If both are normal, AA is very unlikely. Together the WBCC and CRP are useful tools in diagnosing and staging AA

Staging and haematological abnormalities of HIV-infected persons in Mangaung in the Free State Province, South Africa

Background: The prevalence of HIV in specific areas of South Africa and its impact on haematological parameters are largely unknown. Objectives: To (1) describe the prevalence of HIV, (2) stage HIV based on CD4 counts, and (3) determine haematological parameters amongst participants in Mangaung, Free State Province. Method: Blood specimens were obtained from 419 participants in formal and informal settlements in Mangaung. Participants were 25­64 years of age; 23.4% were male. Males and females were a mean of 45.1 and 44.3 years of age, respectively. Screening for HIV status was performed. Positive results were confirmed by a second test. Full blood counts were performed on all participants, and CD4 counts only on HIV-positive serum. Results: The overall prevalence of HIV was 40.8%. The highest prevalence occurred in the 31­40 years age group, with 38.4% of females and 39.5% of males being infected. More than 33% of HIV-uninfected participants were 51­60 years of age. No significant change in CD4 count with age was observed, probably because 19.1% of the 225 respondents who reported using medication were receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. Haematological results showed that HIV-infected participants had significantly reduced values for haemoglobin, leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes, compared to HIV-uninfected participants. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly higher in HIV-infected participants. Conclusions: A high prevalence of HIV-infection was found. Anaemia and significantly reduced white blood cell counts were observed in the HIV-infected group. No significant change in CD4 counts with age was observed and could possibly be attributed to ARV therapy

Relationships between blood cell counts and the density of malaria parasites among patients at the regional hospital, Limbe, Cameroon

Malaria is one of the most important infectious disease in Cameroon and throughout the world [1]. Globally it results in an estimated 400 millions cases and about 3 millions deaths each year; most of these deaths in children aged 1 to 5 in Sub-Saharan Africa; making it the biggest single infections killer of children in the world [1]. It is a major public health problem in Cameroon; with its prevalence and incidence appearing to be on the increase owing to the lack of adequate control measures [6]. This study was designed to determine the correlation between blood cell counts and the density of malaria parasitemia amongst patients who presented for consultation at the Regional Hospital Limbe (RHL). A total of 100 consecutive patients suffering from malaria who consented to participating in this study were recruited and venous blood (3-5ml) was collected by venepuncture. Thick and thin blood films were prepared; stained and microscopically examined for the presence of malaria parasites. Total blood cells and differential white cell counts were performed using a coulter counter. The findings depicted a negative correlation between parasite load and haemoglobin concentration [Hb]; mean cell volume (MCV); and mean cell haemoglobin (MCH); a positive correlation of parasite density with white blood cell counts (WBC); red blood cell counts (RBC); and the differential white blood cell counts (lymphocyte; monocyte; and granulocytes); and no correlation was observed with the platelet counts

The Full Blood Count and Blood film (Haemogram)

"Wherever we are in the world there never seems to be enough money for healthcare provision. So the key is to make what resources we have go as far as possible. Any laboratory test that we request should always be preceded by the questions ""Why are we making the request; what are the possible results and what decisions might those results lead us to make?"" Then we should ask ""Have we gained all possible information from that test? A simple examination of the blood (with an Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate / ESR) is probably the best example of this approach. It may appear very limited but a great deal of information can be obtained about systemic disease. Most hospitals and health centres have the facilities for these tests. The commoner blood count and blood film abnormalities can be considered under the headings of chronic disorders; infections and diseases of the various systems. (Primary haematological diseases are excluded from the present discussion)."

Etude comparée de la numération formule sanguine chez les techniciens de radiologie et un groupe de personnes non exposées

L'analyse des resultats de la numeration formule sanguine realisee chez des techniciens de radiologie et des personnes non exposees aux irradiations a permis de montrer qu'il n'y a pas de modification significative de l'hemogramme entre les deux groupes. Les auteurs insistent neanmoins sur la necessite d'une surveillance hematologique reguliere afin de de prevenir les risques d'irradiation